Archives May 2023

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COMMUNIQUE: PROMOTING THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE EAST AFRICA REGION

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  1. The representatives of the Governments of the Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Republic of Kenya, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Uganda, national youth councils, youth led organisations, and youth delegates, met from 9 to 12 May 2023 in Bujumbura, Burundi, to discuss the role of governments, regional economic communities (RECs) and regional mechanisms (RMs) in promoting the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda in the East Africa region.
  1. The meeting was convened by the African Union, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Save the Children, the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and the Horn of Africa Youth Network. Also in attendance were representatives from the East African Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the East African Standby Force (EASF).
  1. We, the youth present to H.E. Major General Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi and African Union Champion on Youth, Peace and Security, and ministers of foreign affairs and youth affairs of East Africa Region, the outcomes of the Third High-Level Ministerial Conference on the Role of Governments, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Mechanisms (RMs) in Promoting the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda, held in the East Africa Region, in Bujumbura, Burundi, from 9 to 12 May 2023.
  1. In line with the five pillars of the African Union Continental Framework on Youth, Peace and Security:
  1. On participation, the Conference agreed on the need to mainstream the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda in member states, including the domestication of international, continental and regional youth, peace and security policies and legal frameworks; ensure the meaningful and inclusive representation of young people at different levels of government and decision making; resourcing youth-led and youth-focused peace and security initiatives.
  1. On prevention, the Conference recognised the family as the basic building block of society, and called for a holistic approach to peace and security, including civic and peace education, sensitization and awareness campaigns, building on community engagements and mechanisms, which include the arts, sports, and media, to address the root and structural causes of conflict; a focus on entrepreneurship and job creation to reduce the risks of radicalisation; and support for youth peace ambassadors and peace clubs in peacebuilding.
  1. On protection, the Conference acknowledged the existing protection mechanisms for young people, and urged member states to strengthen the capacities of law enforcement agencies to hold accountable the perpetrators of crimes and injustices; review and strengthen safeguarding and protection laws and provide safe spaces for youth to freely express themselves without fear of victimization and discrimination, including on online platforms; prioritize youth interests and needs in overcoming collective challenges and apply the triple nexus approach of sustainable development, peacebuilding and conflict mitigation, and humanitarian assistance to ensure the protection and wellbeing of affected youths.
  1. On partnerships and coordination, the Conference highlighted the need to continue enhancing collaboration and strategic coordination among member states, local, national, regional, continental and international institutions, academia, the media, the private sector and young people, to leverage on their comparative strengths and resources in advancing the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda; promote research, knowledge production, and dissemination to support youth advocacy efforts and address gaps in policy and implementation; establish a monitoring and evaluation framework to assess progress in the advancement of the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda; increase networking opportunities through digital and physical spaces for experience sharing and peer learning.
  1. On Disengagement and Reintegration, the Conference emphasized the need to strengthen programmes for the disengagement, reintegration and rehabilitation of returnees and victims through the establishment of scholarship programmes; vocational and technical training; quick impact projects; provide psychosocial support; break stereotypes and prejudice; provide sexual and reproductive health care for victims of sexual violence; promote inter-communal dialogues to facilitate integration and social cohesion.
  1. Encouraged by progress made by the governments of the Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Uganda in the development and operationalization of their National Action Plans, we, the young people present at this conference, call upon the countries that are yet to commence these processes to prioritise the development and implementation of National Action Plans for youth peace and security; establish, capacitate and resource national youth councils; include youth in decision-making processes; facilitate good working relationships between youth and other policymakers at different levels; regularly consult youth constituencies; and support young people in building a better future for their countries;
  1. We, the young people, hereby commit to:-
  • Share the knowledge gained through this forum with our respective constituencies;
  • Promote the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda and the spirit of patriotism in our communities;
  • Use our policy and decision-making powers to advance the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda; and
  • Take ownership of conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives in our respective communities to build social cohesion and promote peace and security.
  1. We, the young people in the East Africa region, are deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in the Republic of Sudan and condemn the loss of lives, the destruction of property and the worsening humanitarian situation. We express our solidarity with the youth in the Republic of Sudan and call upon the African Union and the Region to prioritise an all-inclusive peace process that will ensure sustainable peace.
  1. We thank the Government of the Republic of Burundi for its legendary hospitality, recognise and appreciate the African Union, COMESA, Save the Children, International IDEA, ACCORD, and the Horn of Africa Youth Network for successfully organising this conference in the country of milk and honey.

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East Africa Factsheet

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East African Countries

Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

Peace and security dynamics in East Africa

  • Geopolitically, East Africa is part of at least two interlinked regional security complexes: the Horn of Africa and the African Great Lakes complex. This fact sheet will consider influences of both complexes in the sub-region, with the implication that some conflicts will span beyond member states of the EAC to others constituting the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa.
  • Two of the five least safe and most insecure countries in the world are from eastern African: Somalia and South Sudan.
  • Somalia since 1991-devasting for both national and regional security and has become a safe haven for international terrorism
  • Kenya-since return to multi-partyism in 1992-ethnic violence in electoral years coupled with rise of criminal gangs-Mungiki, SLDF, MRC, numerous militias.
  • Rwanda-Genocide and the after effect.
  • Burundi-Ethnic rivalries
  • South Sudan – Ethnic and Leadership rivalries
  •  In Eastern Africa, the major terrorist threat derives from the salafi-jihadist organisation al-Shabaab, which functions primarily out of Somalia. Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Burundi have been directly involved in trying to counter the organization.
  • There was a coup in Sudan in April 2019 and failed remote insurrections that triggered inter- and intra-ethnic tensions in Ethiopia in June 2019 and South Sudan in December 2013.
  • There have been varying degrees of civil strife in Kenya (in 2013 and 2017) and Uganda, led by youthful Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine. In Burundi, the late former president Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision in April 2015 to run for a third term led to a failed coup in May 2015 and long-running civil strife.
  • In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) there has been political volatility and fighting in the eastern regions for over two decades.

Eastern Africa’s peace and security structures 

  • Eastern Africa is home to two key regional economic communities (RECs).

          -The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
          – The Eastern African Community (EAC) Eastern

  • African Standby Force Secretariat (EASFSEC)

Youth in East Africa

  • East Africa has one of the youngest populations in the world. With such a large population of young people, supportive policies and programs on inclusive youth development are critical now more than ever.
  • A majority of the youth-led organisations operate with limited funding, with 49% operating under USD 5,000 per annum and only 11% over USD 100,000
  • Youth believe their main strength and motivation is in working with peers for a common vision of preventing violence and promoting peace in communities. This peer to peer trust is confirmed by a recent study, which reports that 60% of young people see peers as highly credible.
  • Youth-led organisations are applying different skills to overcome funding challenges by finding alternative sources such as through their members, crowd funding, donations and in-kind support. Some push for visibility by participating in and actively joining local, national and international networks and social media. Others solicit funding through traditional sources such as through institutional donor proposals, partnership with CSOs, media houses (radios, TV), and others.
  • A recent study showed that youth-led organisations partnering with civil society members helps pool limited resources.
  • It is primarily Governments and political leaders who seek to mobilize, and often to manipulate, the role and function of youth for political ends. Research findings indicate that such stereotypes are also widely sustained and reinforced by the media.
  • Partnerships are consistently highlighted by young people and their organisations as a key priority and means for expanding their impact in peacebuilding.
  • The climate of mistrust is deeply entrenched in the region, and even if moving towards the same agenda, this mistrust has also been present between young people and the government.

Click on the link below to download the factsheet